PM Barrow says City Councillors should take pay cut

We also asked the Prime Minister about the cash strapped City Council which has been unable to pay for the city’s garbage collection. Suggestions on how to curb expenses and increase revenue collection abound and no other than the P.M. himself had a few. Councilors from the old capital earn more than councilors in other districts and Barrow believes that perhaps it is time for the councilors to take a pay cut.

Jose Sanchez
“Are you going to cut down on those stipends of the city councilors?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“I’m certainly looking at it. I want to persuade the councilors that they need to offer some good faith gesture to the public. They are not going to get out of the financial hole they are in unless they ask for help on the part of the public. And that help will have to come by little additional fees. Something for garbage collection, collection of domestic garbage is one option. But you can’t do that unless you show the public that you, as city councilors, are prepared to make sacrifices too. That’s all I’m saying.”

News Five spoke to Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie this afternoon. He said that the idea of a cut has been floating around but before today’s announcement no formal discussion or proposal was brought to the council. He said a caucus will be held at City Hall on Monday to table the proposal. Leslie said the P.M. told him that a cut would show that the council is serious about changing and getting work done to improve their finances.